Theatre History

Seaman High School Theatre began as Thespian Troupe 196 in 1949. At that this, Miss Etta Abbott was the sponsor of the drama club.

This charter thrived in the early 1950s when the school was located at its original location. During this time, Seaman High School was located at Lyman and Tyler and it boasted an active chapter of the honorary drama and public speaking society. In November 1954, Seaman High moved into a new school located one-half mile west of the former school. When the high school was moved to Lyman and Clay, where there was no auditorium for dramatic presentations, the organization was discontinued.

When the school was moved to its present location, interest in reinstating the charter began. This was due to the fact that the new facility had a large auditorium. In the 1970 school year, a drama class was started and with it, an increase in the theatre department. With this class, more students gained experience and a larger number of productions were done. In the fall of 1970, Macbeth and The Spoon River Anthology were performed. In the spring, The Sound of Music was performed. The drama club also sponsored the annual Talent Show. This increase in interest in theatre, along with the institution of drama classes made if possible to reinstate a chapter of the International Thespian Society in May of 1971.

19 Seaman High School students were installed as members of the new Troupe 2001. These inaugural members were Cleon Curtiss, Melody Curtiss, Marilyn Daniel, Susan Day, James Doyle, Debbie Herborn, George "Sonny" Hersh, Kathleen Herrick, Kenneth L. Killman, Rhonda Kugler, James Logan, Nancy Millburn, Steven Miller, Christine Nisbeth Bethany Peare, Marlin Schroick, Rachel Shorthill Joanne Smuthney, and Steven C. Tarwarter. The installation ceremony was conducted by Jane Houdyshell, Joe Burgess and Elvira Gomez, officers of the Topeka High School charter and Martha Herrirk the sponsor of the Topeka High School charter.

Mrs. Louise Pelsue was installed as Seaman chapter sponsor. This chapter was active through the 1985 school year. At this time the charter became inactive and a drama club known as the "Spotlighters" was formed. This became the only drama organization at Seaman for a time.

In 1997, troupe 2001 was reactivated and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2017.